Shakespeare's Henry VI "House of York" (part 16 of 16)

in this segment Richard kills King Henry VI

The English Shakespeare Company adapted the three Henry VI plays to Henry VI "House of Lancaster", and Henry VI "House of York".

"The Wars of the Roses" (English Shakespeare Company, UK, 1990) is a direct filming, from the stage, of Michael Bogdanov and Michael Pennington's 7-play sequence based on Shakespeare's history plays.

Paul Brennen as Henry VI
Andrew Jarvis as Richard Duke of Gloucester
Philip Bowen as King Edward
John Dougall as Clarence
Anne Penfold as Lady Grey

All performances were recorded at the Swansea Theatre before a live audience.

from blurb on videotape:

Shakespeare's history cycle recounts the story of two great dynasties, the Red Rose of Lancaster and the White Rose of York, who contested their rights to the crown across nearly two centuries of murder, intrigue, rebellion, counter-rebellion, and bloody battle culmination at last in the Battle of Bosworth and the accession of Henry Tudor to the throne.

The great battles of Agincourt, Tewkesbury, and Bosworth; the poetry of love, the treachery of power politics, and the unease of crownèd heads--in short, Shakespeare's history plays--are here presented by the English Shakespeare Company in performances hailed for bringing to life the history as well as the plays.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Shakespeare
• King-Henry-VI
• Paul-Brennen
• Andrew-Jarvis
• John-Dougall
• York
• play
• theatre
• English-history
• HenryVI

[GreatGrumbledook]

That head of thine doth not become a crown; Thy hand is made to grasp a palmer's staff, And not to grace an awful princely sceptre. That gold must round engirt these brows of mine, Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Is able with the change to kill and cure. Here is a hand to hold a sceptre up And with the same to act controlling laws. Give place: by heaven, thou shalt rule no more O'er him whom heaven created for thy ruler.

[GreatGrumbledook]

YORK How now! is Somerset at liberty? Then, York, unloose thy long-imprison'd thoughts, And let thy tongue be equal with thy heart. Shall I endure the sight of Somerset? False king! why hast thou broken faith with me, Knowing how hardly I can brook abuse? King did I call thee? no, thou art not king, Not fit to govern and rule multitudes, Which darest not, no, nor canst not rule a traitor.

[GreatGrumbledook]

Well, I hate the modern costumes [though they seem at least military and stately, so it is better than most I am used to] and the mingling with the verses was awful; but the performances were good, though I wished that they had chosen a more attractive Richard of Gloucester (like Ron Cook or Ian McKellen)! And the duke of York was a full catastrophe! In the plays he is warlike, regal and cunning; but can this barrel with a beard utter such words:

[agreatguy6]

Absolutely stunning :) thanks so much for posting ^^